Sunday, October 02, 2022

Slow Sunday Stitching

Welcome to the weekly celebration of all hand stitched crafts! We hope you will join us in setting aside time each Sunday for some relaxing stitching on your favourite project. Pick up a needle and thread, breathe deeply, and enjoy a few moments of restful stitching. 

I think you could guess from last week's post that I was starting a new project this week! This is a free online embroidery workshop from Clever Poppy. The pattern was beautifully written and clear, and the lessons were full of tips. I used Julie's method of tracing a pattern and I really liked it! Sometimes we get stuck in our old ways of doing things, and resist trying new ways. I'm so glad I tried something new!


Even though I have been embroidering for years, I learned that there is a "stab stitch" method of doing the backstitch, and my way is called the "sewing stitch" method (shown in the photo). Using this method your needle and hands stay on top of the project.


I didn't use all the colours recommended since I didn't have them in my floss stash so I just substituted some of the threads to a similar colour that I had. So happy to use what I have on hand. See the ziploc bag of threads I found to use!

There are a lot of french knots in this piece, which not everyone likes, but I really do!
Julie's tip was - "don't choke your needle" when doing french knots. I sometimes do that, so I worked on my tension and think I'm getting better with all this practice.

When I'm finished the french knots, I will move on the the bee making lesson. It's so fun to watch someone else stitch and Julie was very generous with her embroider tips and tricks. Thanks Julie!

What are you hand stitching this week? We hope you will link up your project and share what you are working on!

16 comments:

Ivani said...

Your embroidery is beautiful,Kathy and I love all your French knots, well done.
Happy Sunday and Happy stitching.

Kathy S. said...

What a fun project. Now I need to click on the references to see what it becomes in the end. I love learning projects like this. Your little baggie of leftovers from the other project coordinate beautifully for it. I LOVE French knots and know what don't choke the needle means, but never thought of it that way. I love learning new things like this. I'll be saving it in my bucket list of hand stitching items. Thank you!

Sarah said...

Very pretty jam jar of flowers you are stitching. I'm in the love French knots camp too!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

What a pretty design! I do love the flowers made with French knots like that. Glad to know you're learning so much! Enjoy your stitching today!

Linda said...

Thanks for the link to another stitch along, will check it out. Yours is looking lovely.

Angela said...

I like french knots. I have probably done thousands of them over the years.

Karrin Hurd said...

Great project with beautiful stitching!

Vivian said...

Another very pretty piece! The second one I've picked up from the Linky today, nice! I'm trying to learn cross stitch right now but seeing these embroidery projects I definitely will get back to doing that too!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Beautiful stitching Kathy. With your way of doing the back stitch you have to be good to keep it even which you obviously are. The other slower way there is a little more control to help keep the stitches even sizes. Anyway, cool and sunny here in the Ottawa Valley, a great day for some Autumn stitching.

Melisa- pinkernpunkinquilting said...

Such a beautiful stitch you are working on. I will have to check this freebie out although I spent the night thinking about your Waffle Quilt. I may need to start one of those as well. Lol. Happy quilting.

linda said...

I love your embroidery I will have to look this up, I love French knots too.

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

Gee I love your embroidery, but could not find anything free on that web site! WOW expensive. I look forward to your finished blocks. Love the current one. Hugs

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

Whoops - found the freebie!

The Cozy Quilter said...

Those French knots add great texture to your flowers! Great job!

Wendy Caton Reed said...

Your embroidery is marvelous! I am so far behind in blog reading. Hugs!Nice to see you are keeping up the pace!!

CathieJ said...

Your embroidery is so pretty. I don't mind French knots. I seem to have perfected them. I use the "stab stitch" method of back stitch. I can't get even stitches that way for some reason.